Role Reversal In Children's Literature

Lions, and tigers, and bears OH MY! In all classic fairytales there is a moral or a message for a child. So hence, there is always a struggle between good and evil and therefore, monsters are created. In the story of Little Red Riding Hood, first written by Charles Perrault in 1729, is an example where a monster really shines. This story has countless variations and provides great examples of monsters. Even though there are many variations of the tale, there is always a monster that comes forth. In most versions the monster is a wolf or a bear, but sometimes the least suspecting of characters may become the frightening monster.

This extremely popular tale is most famous for its ease to understand and its simplicity. A good little girl goes over her grandmother's house and alas, a wolf poses as her grandmothers and tries to eat her. The story is simple, but children learn an important message from this tale, and that is what makes it so famous.

For inspiration, Punchline drew on the cruelty fou...

English: Little Red Riding Hood

Cutlery for children. Detail showing fairy-tale sc...

The constant retelling of this story from many, different cultures have proven this story's timelessness. This tale however keeps the basic idea of a monster which tries to eat a little girl. When the monster is not a wolf, or a bear, Little Red Riding Hood has no problem taking it upon herself to assume the role as the monster.

A famous way this story is told is a version written by Roald Dahl. She decided to put another spin on the fairytale Little Red Riding Hood. She called her story "Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf." This is my favorite version of a retelling of this story. Dahl decided to give it a twist and provide and unexpected ending. The way this author presents this story...